I'm Kenney Mencher. I'm an artist who left a tenured professorship in 2016 to pursue making art full time. This blog is about art, art history, with a emphasis on human rights. I make homoerotic art featuring bears, otters & other gay wildlife.
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Early Christian Art Catacombs and Sarcophagi
For all the videos in order with a textbook and study guides please visit: https://www.udemy.com/user/kenneymencher/
 The Catacomb of St. Peters and Marcellinus - 200 CE Rome, Italy Early Christian (go here for more detail views)  | Form: The catacombs were a series of underground tunnels dug into the soft volcanic rock beneath Rome. Some of the tunnels were connected as an overall network system. The small spaces were most often used as tombs in which the bodies were kept in crypts and in niches carved directly into the rock. The cells or rooms for these tombs were often decorated with frescoes although in terms of the illusionistic and over all quality of the frescoes were not as fine as those found in Pompeii.This particular fresco is on the ceiling of one of the chambers. It is a symmetrical design that fits the contours of the ceiling. The over all shape is a medallion (circular form) which contains another circle. Radiating from the inner circle is a cruciform (cross like) design that terminates in lunettes (small half circles). Each of the empty spaces contained by the design hold a scene or a figure. The figures all stand the orant pose but those inside the half circles and the central circle contain slightly different scenes. The central circle contains a naturalistically rendered image of a figure standing in contrapposto pose. His over all pose follows the schema of the sculpture of the Moscophoros. The surrounding lunettes show scenes from the story of Jonah and the Whale. Iconography: The imagery is neither wholly Roman, Jewish or Christian but instead a kind of composite of the best qualities of each. The contrapposto pose and nude figures done in the Roman style demonstrate that the the ideas of kalos and beauty from the Greek classic periods have not completely faded. The image of the youth carrying the lamb, is a borrowing from the Moscophoros image dealing with a sacrificial lamb but also refers to the Jewish and Christian ideas concerning King David from the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of the images of Christ as the "Good Shepherd." The use of Old Testament themes to illustrate New Testament stories is referred to by Stokstad as typological exegesis. (Go to Stokstad page 293 for more on Jonah) Context: Stokstad has an excellent description of the context that these frescoes would have been found in on page 293. |
- Catholic: means “universal”
- Monotheistic
- Triad of Three cultures ideas: Roman, Greek, Jewish
- Greeks and Romans gave it:
- Plays for morality,
- Symbols of dome and circle (iconography),
- Saints, Bldgs.,
- State religion w/ pope @ head, roads, technology, laws, language
- Jews gave it:
- monotheistic faith,
- Bible (Old Testament),
- rules,
- 10 Commandments
- Vulgate: common version of the Bible
- Christ: means “annointed”, blessed one
- Philosophical points: it’s all about love, be nice to one another, forgiveness, guilt
- So popular b/c: afterlife is rewarding, Jesus and apostles from lower class so people relate, rulers are dictators, (antiwar, afterlife, forgiveness).
- Edict of Milan: legalized Christianity
- Nicene Creed: standard Catholic (universal) philosophy
- Jesus was not a prophet but actually God on Earth
- Holy Trinity is three beings all of same vehicle;
- God- creator,
- Jesus- incarnate flesh,
- Ghost- spirit
- Heretics are people against church; “wrong believers”
- Structure of Church’s Authority:
- Jesus’s #1 Main Apostle- Peter (Petrus) (“rock”, 1st pope)
- “On this rock I will build this church,” said Jesus.
- Hierarchy:
- Pope
- Bishops
- Cardinals.
- Bishops become priests and cardinals are important bishops that elect pope.
- Old Testament: prophetic book (typological exegesis) leads to life of Christ
- Psalms: songs
- Prophecy: coming of messiah
- Apocrypha: history added on, leads up to birth Christ, family tree
- New Testament: Gospels (teachings & stories)
- Acts: apostles’ stories after life Christ
- Letters: lives of apostles
- Revelation: apocalypse
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Early Christian into the Byzantine, San Vitale
| Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy 526-47 CE Byzantine Style   For all the videos in order with a textbook and study guides please visit: https://www.udemy.com/user/kenneymencher/ | Form: This central plan structure has an octagonal shape and two levels. The arches walls and floors are all covered with ornate and intricate Byzantine style mosaic and tile work. Arches and some vaulting are used and the center even has a dome, which from the exterior looks like an octagons full of windows that flood the interior with light. Eight large piers alternate with columned niches to define precisely the central space and to create a many layered design. Nevertheless, the technology used to construct San Vitale is not quite as advanced as Hagia Sophia although the walls were lightened by the use of hollow pots in its interior.Iconography: San Vitale reflects Byzantine influence and technological creativity. St. Vitale is the major Justinian monument in the West. It was probably built as a testament to the power of Orthodoxy in the declining kingdom of the Ostrogoths. He tries to establish a place where there are severe Christian Churches (people were forced to convert to Christianity). Context: On the second level of the ambulatory, is a special gallery reserved for women. This was a typical custom of Jewish religious worship. The reason for this, was to segregate the males from the females in order for them to pray with greater devotion. For more details of San Vitale go here.  |
| Emperor Justinian and his Attendants mosaic on north wall of the apse Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy 526-47 CE Byzantine Style  Empress Theodora and Her Attendants.mosaic on south wall of the apse Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy 526-47 CE Byzantine Style  | Form: The interior of St. Vitale, is similar to the Pantheon and Hagia Sophia. The design includes an enormous amount of different colored marble and all the other surfaces are decorated with mosaic or tile. The ornamentation in the church's interior looks Islamic or Arabic although it predates Islam. The figures are stylized in a typical Byzantine mode. The heads are too large and the bodies are covered completely with drapery that does not reveal the anatomy beneath. It also shares some elements from the Arch of Constantine, the heads are big and there's no Contrapposto (liberal movement in figures). The facial anatomy is stylized. The face is also elongated and the nose meets the bridge of the brows and the eyebrows actually go directly into the nose. These are some of the elements that become standardized in Byzantine Manuscript. Stokstad discusses the reverse perspective of the image which basically is a denial of the illusionistic systems of Roman art that are apparent in the mosaics and frescoes of Pompeii. Iconography: Both the empress's and emperor's mosaics face one another across the apse and each holds one component of the eucharist. Justinian holds the tray and the wafer which symbolizes the body of Christ. In his twelve companions, which are roughly the equivalent to Jesus' twelve apostles, the emperor also has two symbols of the power he holds: on the earth he has his army to support him at his right hand. Notice they have the implied mandate of the power of Constantine because of the chi ro on their shield. (Here's what a chi ro is) For his spiritual power he has the members of the clergy on his left. Directly to his left is the archbishop Maximus whose face is almost as defined and unique as Justinian's. Theodora is surrounded by her ladies in waiting and the local clergy as well and Theodora holds the wine which symbolizes the blood of christ. On her gown is an image of the three Magi carrying their gift to the newborn Jesus. Both are wearing royal purple and both are placed at the center of the image. The placement and the icons they carry and wear were meant to communicate to the viewer that the emperor and empress were the church and the only path to salvation. This links theological and political power as a single theocratic unit. Context: (Stokstad gives a much more detailed discussion of the iconography in the Byzantine chapter.) For more details of San Vitale go here. |
Chi-Rho n, pl Chi-Rhos [chi + rho] (1868): a Christian monogram and symbol formed from the first two letters X and P of the Greek word for Christ--called also Christogram What is Chi Ro? Chi Ro, pronounced (KI ROW), is probably the oldest monogram used for the name of Christ. It was found written along the walls of the catacombs, which were the cemeteries of the early Christians and also a place where they held their secret meetings. The Chi and Ro are the first two letters in the Greek word for Christ. Our CH was one letter in Greek and was shaped like our X. The Greek R had the shape of our P. By combining the RO or P to one arm of the Chi we get XP. As a pre- Christian symbol, the Chi Ro signified good fortune. The Chi Ro became an important Christian symbol when adopted by the Roman Emperor Constantine, representing the first two letters in the name Christ. According to Church Father Eusebius, on the eve of the Battle of Milvan Bridge, the Emperor saw the emblem in a dream, with the inscription "With this symbol, you shall conquer." According to the story, the battle was won. In return for the victory, Constantine erected Christian Churches. The symbol was the standard of the Emperor's army, prominently displayed on the Emperor's labarum, or battle standard.  Capital, Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy 526-47 CE Byzantine Style For all the videos in order with a textbook and study guides please visit: https://www.udemy.com/user/kenneymencher/ | Form: This capital at first appears to be an almost Tuscan or Doric capital but on closer inspection it is the correction of the original Greek and Roman orders. Between the arch and the capital is an additional structure called an impost block. The designs on the capital are much more ornate and less solid looking then its predecessors and combines carving, polychroming and mosaic. The over all intricate organic patterning and weaving of the ornamentation is abstract and overly ornate. Iconography: The organic vine like qualities refer to the symbol of Christianity as a vine that keeps spreading. In the center of the column's capital and impost block are cruciform symbols. Notice on the capital, the Greek cross formed of four circles that looks like the domed greek cross plan discussed on page 324 The Elements of Architecture, Multiple-Dome Church Plans. The use of classical ornamentation and then the obvious changing of it is symbolic of the fusion of the Roman and Greek classic ideals wedded to the culture and decorative forms of the east as well as the iconography of Christianity. |
 Mosaic of Christ from the Archepiscopal Palace in Ravenna late 6th CenturyThis image of Christ from San Vitale demonstrates a shift in Christian thought. If you look at how Jesus is depicted and how this passage relates to the Psalm at right you may notice that Jesus is now a Christian soldier and defender. This relates somewhat to the politics that govern the interaction of Christianity with Islam in Byzantium almost a century later. | PSALM 91,He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling -- even the Lord, who is my refuge -- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. (sometimes worded: You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.) "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." |
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